AS Roma vs Juventus

They travel to the capital in search of the one point required to make them champions for a seventh successive season.

Critics will say that Napoli, for the second time in three seasons, have faltered when it matters most. And they have a point.

But it must be remembered, the men from Naples were often seen to be punching above their weight anyway.

Talking Points

You can’t argue with a seventh straight Serie A title which is coming the way of the ‘old lady’ of Turin.

As if that isn’t enough, they cruised to the Coppa Italia in midweek, blowing away Milan in some style.

Their 4-0 dismantling of big spending opponents in the final, all the goals in the second half after a closely contested first hour, was further proof of their dominance and a golden era.

Why would Maxi Allegri want to leave for pastures new when he is on the brink of leading the club to a fourth successive league and cup double?

Opponents Roma need the points just as much.

After reaching the semi-finals this time around, Eusebio Di Francesco wants to guide his side to another Champions League adventure.

They are unbeaten at the Stadio Olimpico this season and will not want that record to slip at the final hurdle.

Despite selling Mohamed Salah (to Liverpool) and Antonio Rudiger (to Chelsea) last summer, the club has held steady – although they are a massive 18 points behind Juve.

In experienced former Man City duo, Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov, they have calming influences alongside the talents of Radja Nainggolan, emerging duo Cengiz Under and Patrik Schick and talented goalkeeper Alisson– linked with a move to European champions Real Madrid.

As they travel to Rome, the chances are this will be the last big game of Gigi Buffon’s stellar career.

The Turin giants want him to bow out in style, they want their own team to cap another glorious domestic campaign.

The Scudetto surely awaits.

History

Juventus edged a tight encounter between the sides just before Christmas – MedhiBenatiascoring the only goal against his former club on that occasion.

It was a seventh straight defeat in Turin for Roma and put Juventus within one point of then leaders Napoli.

It sparked a 14 match winning surge which lifted them to the Serie A summit.

Roma didn’t win again until February 4 by which time their title hopes were over.

What are the odds?

After their cruise to the Coppa, Juventus are naturally favourites and are attractively priced at Asian Handicap0.00 @2.40.

You can get odds on Roma -0.25 @1.99.

A tight affair is predicted, perhaps not with too many goals.

Over 2.25 goals pays just1.83, while a 1X2 draw pays at odds of3.00.

Remember though, Roma delayed Juve’s title celebrations by a week this time last year with a 3-1 win in the Stadio Olimpico and would love a repeat.

Other notable match-ups

Inter Milan vs Sassuolo

The only side remaining with hope of breaking into the top four and Champions League qualification. Luciano Spalletti knows his team must see off opponents they lost to last year to take it to a winner-takes-all showdown at Lazio on the final day.

Fiorentina vs Cagliari

On what is bound to be an emotional day as Viola play their final home match of a season in which tragically lost their skipper Davide Astori, how fitting it would be if they could qualify for Europe. To have a chance, they need victory. To have a realistic chance of survival, Cagliari need at least a point.

Atalanta vs AC Milan

With Juventus’ Coppa Italia success opening up an extra Europa League spot through the league, the race for seventh has taken an extra twist.

The quirks of the fixture calendar means this contest between bruised Milan in sixth and Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta in seventh has even more at stake. A draw would best suit Fiorentina.